The Potteries Loop Line Rediscovered - A Disused Railway Walk

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Күн бұрын

The Potteries Loop Line Rediscovered - A Disused Railway Walk
The Potteries Loop Line was a railway line that connected Stoke-on-Trent to Mow Cop and Scholar Green via Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall and Kidsgrove. It ran between Staffordshire and Cheshire in England. It served three of the six towns of Stoke on Trent (Hanley, Burslem and Tunstall). It was opened in many short sections due to the cost of railway construction during the 1870s. The line throughout was sanctioned but the North Staffordshire Railway
In this video i walk and retrace a large portion of this disused railway from Corbridge near Hanley, Stoke on Trent and follow the route through Burslem, Tunstall, Goldenhill and onto Kidsgrove.
'Hyperion' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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Пікірлер: 91

@ianr 2 ай бұрын

Brilliant video Ant! Potteries Loop Line is one of my favourites. Birchenwood tunnel was a rare example of a tunnel being built to accommodate 3 tracks. 🙂👍

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Ahhh good I'm glad you confirmed it was for 3 tracks 😊

@petestuart6584 2 ай бұрын

@@TrekkingExploration indeed it was. You had the two main running line, and then the other was essentially a long siding and access road to the collieries and ironworks around. I don't think it was in for that long and then reverted to just one running line and the other running line converted to be the access line. A great walk and video, as always!

@striderpaul 2 ай бұрын

The photo of the bridge at 19:48 was a mineral line that went to Clough Hall Colliery on the left. As you said there were 3 tracks along this part and a junction went off from the the third track on the left to the Colliery. The junction is behind the photographer of that photo. Brilliant video, thank you.

@tominnis8353 2 ай бұрын

Yet another short sighted closure. A crazy waste of infrastructure. Thank you.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching Tom

@tominnis8353 2 ай бұрын

Because they never thought beyond 3 or 4 years ahead - politicians for you!

@petedemaio168 2 ай бұрын

Another great video. So much infrastructure gone, makes me sad and angry. As building anything now is such a struggle.

@truthfulremedy_aka_lennybee 2 ай бұрын

History aside, fascinating in itself… the way nature claims back and leaves little relics is just as beautiful as the vintage industrial look it once had! Another great trek! Lovely to see you in south wales on the old coal lines there too! Most are now beautiful walks up the valleys with some viaducts still in situ 👍

@simonballard6413 2 ай бұрын

Another superb walk! I loved the corrugated tunnels and the larger one. That set of wheels and the part of the little engine were pleasant reminders, too. So much marvellous railway history. Thanks, Ant.

@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling 2 ай бұрын

In my part of the World Ant. Thanks for sharing the local history. I really enjoyed this one.

@fhwolthuis 2 ай бұрын

Another excellent production, Ant! Thank you very much 👌😃

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Very kind frank thank you. I hope the sound was better today 😊

@fhwolthuis 2 ай бұрын

@@TrekkingExploration it surely was, no problems 💪🏼😉

@TheShowgirl25 2 ай бұрын

Every video you do is brilliant Ant. You always get a like, even if I don.t comment!

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Very kind thanks very much

@nickboden5866 2 ай бұрын

Superb video as always, liked the Green Class 40 in one of your images.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Cheers Nick thanks very much 😊

@nickboden5866 2 ай бұрын

@@TrekkingExploration My pleasure

@wideyxyz2271 2 ай бұрын

I love the contrast in foliage from past to present. Very little in the way of vegetation or trees on the old photos, contrasted by the lush vegetation on this video!

@steveinskip4897 2 ай бұрын

Ah..Titanic Stout. Now you’re talking mate! Great vid! I wasn’t aware of this loop although my dad worked in the Power Box at Stoke Station so he would have done I’d have thought.

@malcolmrichardson3881 2 ай бұрын

Very enjoyable walk through a transformed landscape - with some interesting railway remains along the way. Nice to see that much of the former trackbed is readily accessible.Thank you.

@joeldavidhardy 2 ай бұрын

Great video! The downside to disused railway lines is that there’s a lot of stations gone,thing remains! So it’s always exciting to see what remains are there! A line I’m excited to see for my self eventually!

@mikewhitchurch387 2 ай бұрын

Another excellent video, thank you. With regard to the picture of the bus going under the bridge at Market Street station, I would date it more in the mid 60's due to the Leyland FG in the picture which weren't built until 1960/61.

@dodgydruid 2 ай бұрын

I did read the open cast mine maintained a connection way up into 1976 for moving freight which is prob why that 1970's shot showed quite a decent line still in use.

@davidneesam2626 2 ай бұрын

It's good to see the former track bed is still walkable and not totally obliterated like others.

@billyruss 2 ай бұрын

Another brilliantly evocative video. I remember walking a lot of this route when I was at Uni at Keele in the early 1980s. By that time, a number of the tunnels had already been bricked up and/or infilled to the full height of the tunnel. I made the trek to Birchenwood tunnel - at the time I went, the landscape all around was particularly neglected and overgrown, and it looked as though the area all around was used for motorcycle scrambling - my photo from the time is similar to the first black and white one that you show.

@knottyal2428 2 ай бұрын

The Potteries main line was opened in 1848, following the low ground, except Harecastle tunnel. The North Stafford Railway were reluctant to build the Loop Line, because of the steep gradients needed to reach the higher ground. Local town councils in Burslem and Hanley eventually succeeded in pressuring the company to commence construction. Once opened it was a rich source of passenger and freight revenue. Trams and lorries, and buses, stole much of the profits by WW2. Excellent video of the remains of the route.

@SteveKimbo 2 ай бұрын

The orange water comes from the iron deposits in and around Harecastle hill. I cycle along there quite often and it's fascinating to learn a bit more about rhe route! Have you ever followed the Biddulph Valley way from Chatterley Whitfield to Congleton? That's also a lovely route.

@TheThorntonBrapper 2 ай бұрын

Another fantastic video, Ant. Bravo! I'm an honourary local (Mancunian living here for 16 Years) and walk sections of the line (especially Tunstall>Kidsgrove) quite often. Some added info for you if you're remotely interested: Where you ascended back on to the track bed near the Asda, that section used to run on to a huge, beautiful Iron Viaduct that crossed over the A50 (the road you just left) and ran almost to Tunstall station. You can see the remains of the abutments on the roundabout close to the larger Asda near to Tunstall Station. Just after Tunstall Station, the steps that you saw were the remains of the ones that used to lead up the embankment to Tunstall Station. Birchenwood Tunnel is a rare beast and was indeed designed to be 3 wide but I belive it was never used as such but spent most of it's life not as a triple or even as a double but as single track tunnel (I could be wrong). I believe there was a partial collapse of the hefty retaining walls at the Southern portal in the 70's which is visible on the approach. Finally, if you ever visit again, take a look at the refuges, they're only about 2 or 3 feet high as the track bed has been raised by about 3 or 4 feet since closure. Keep up the great work, it's marvellous to see you exploring these hidden gems!

@levelcrossing150 2 ай бұрын

Excellent video.

@phildennis7577 Ай бұрын

Wow Just dropped on this.by accident. That was fabulous.

@TrekkingExploration Ай бұрын

Thanks very much indeed Phil

@a11csc 2 ай бұрын

fantastic Ant

@bobingram6912 2 ай бұрын

Hard to imagine that green corridor was once a busy line in a built up area. Good walk Ant👍👍👍

@mcmarky1985 2 ай бұрын

Nice video and perfectly timed just before the football!

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Yes I forgot about that 😅

@garymutten4093 2 ай бұрын

Another fascinating walk, great commentary as always and great 'then' photos to compliment whats left today. Top video once again.

@JanMartin-co9oo 2 ай бұрын

a very interesting walk ant and a lovely piece of history of a disused railway which is now a walkway xx

@_wood 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Ant, lovely walk for most of the way. even a few platform edges still visible in the undergrowth. Lots of "Armco" lined in filled bridges over this line. The copper coloured water reminds mee of the Bridgwater canal at Worseley, Salford where the water comes from the abandoned coal mine tunnels, very common in mining areas where iron ore was associated with the coal deposits.

@RaggyAl1971 2 ай бұрын

That "steam boiler section" is the smoke box from an ex GWR locomotive.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

It's a very unique little thing

@746laurie 2 ай бұрын

Yep, definitely GWR smokebox. My guess would be it's from a 44xx or 45xx "Small Prairie". Some way away from GWR territory though! Maybe it came from a heritage railway when a preserved loco was reboilered since ex-GWR locos can be found on heritage railways throughout England.

@lauriecooper8194 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting video Ant, really enjoyed it.👍

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

@@lauriecooper8194 thank you 😊

@redhmanchesteruk. 2 ай бұрын

Amazing corridor for exploring.

@chrisbayly5457 2 ай бұрын

another good and informative video

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Chris

@davefreeman7629 2 ай бұрын

great video nice one and thank you.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for watching

@dilwyn1 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Ant .... Fascinating explore so much info and so many great old photos. Top job !!

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much as always 😊

@pauldarlington9157 2 ай бұрын

I could never understand why it didn’t survive. Given the very populated area

@sknn497 2 ай бұрын

Very handy for Vale park too

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Indeed it would have been quite useful. Thanks for watching 😊

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

@@sknn497 yes it would be

@pauldarlington9157 2 ай бұрын

@@TrekkingExploration just watching it now! I can remember my family telling how they used to use it, and I often looked at Hanley station in the late 60s early 70s.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

@@pauldarlington9157 I hope you enjoy it 😊

@adriannorthcott902 2 ай бұрын

Another super video Ant. I was told that the soil around the canal is rich in iron and that is what gives the canal that rich colour.

@laurajanie_x2194 2 ай бұрын

Always so interesting, thanks for another great video!

@andrewmatley7688 2 ай бұрын

Cheers Ant another awesum informative railway video cheers mate.

@sarahwinfield3989 2 ай бұрын

Very nice indeed. Thanks for posting.

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Sarah

@brothermoto1964 2 ай бұрын

Fascinating stuff ❤

@RalphFreeman-ok5of Ай бұрын

The blue-brick tunnels and cutting supports are epic. Still standing with almost no deteriation. Maybe a lesson there ?

@Somesayilooklikepeterkay 2 ай бұрын

A up me ducks it's called bycars lane . I've walked along there on a number of occasions. Congratulations on an amazing video mar mate

@johncochrane2707 2 ай бұрын

Nice one Ant.

@Jimyjames73 2 ай бұрын

Sad to see another old Railway line closed - but I suppose it is good that you can walk or if it was me to Cycle along the original Track Bed!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂

@MisterHughie 2 ай бұрын

Would be amazing if you covered the North Lindsey Light Railway, so much still exists and some stories to tell…

@willswheels283 2 ай бұрын

Another great video Ant, this line’s not too far away from me, I’ve walked and cycled it a few times, I think bearing in mind traffic conditions between Kidsgrove and Hanley I think Stoke could do with a train or tram service running between Kidsgrove and Stoke station. I

@phillipthebigj8971 2 ай бұрын

thanks for the vid Ant another great chance to see railway relics l would other wise not see big thumbs up

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Phil very kind

@ElliotDeakin 22 күн бұрын

I've been past where Waterloo Road Railway Station opposite Forest Park School in Hanley used to be twice and i was said that one part of it is still there and that is part of a wall or something i don't know about other relics🤔 But i know with Cobridge where you was opposite Honda car lot on Elder Road, i went past by car from where the bridge is still existing with the footpath leading to the station but not had a proper look on the site yet i'm thinking about it one day. I've been on the site of Hanley Railway Station on Trinity Street opposite Tesco's many times, I know a goods yard what used to be a furniture store still exists on clough street opposite Tesco's, as with the station on both sides of Tesco's and Trinity Street parts of the bridge still exists with part of a wall on the car park where the quality hotel is and also on their parking lot there still exists a platform with arches on. I have been down black horse lane on marsh street in Hanley a few times but i couldn't figure out if that anything to do with Hanley Railway Station? 🤔🚂

@bernardcooke 2 ай бұрын

i think you might be interested in the old railways around birkenhead . Full of things to see there a few things on youtube well worth a look at.

@essjayaitch 2 ай бұрын

PMT stood for Potteries Motor Traction

@richardhoffmann179 2 ай бұрын

It's Mow as in Cow

@TrekkingExploration 2 ай бұрын

Cool

@johnhockenhull2819 2 ай бұрын

@@TrekkingExploration No big deal but Bycars as in Buy Cars not Bikers and Chell (ch like cheese) not Shell.

@railwaychristina3192 2 ай бұрын

Such a useful diversionary route...why didn't it stay open? Why has Wedgewood on the main line closed? We are building so many houses, , Governments are trumpeting their net zero credentials...but will choke the roads with even more cars@😮

@ravenseft 2 ай бұрын

Loss of the coal traffic plus erosion of local passenger traffic by faster bus services. Also, a difficult line to work in terms of curves and gradients. The trackbed should have been protected from development as local populations have increased substantially and the roads are clogged as you mention.